ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) said it is concerned that the country may be unable to face the challenges that could evolve as a result of Grenada signing up to the Caribbean Single Market (CSM).
The NDC, which said it was fully supportive of the CSM, said it was worried that in a nation that is not yet ready, people may suffer.
“We have no difficulty with CSM. We have no difficulty with the deepening of the integration process. We have a difficulty when our own people may suffer as a result of CSM and CSME,” said NDC’s General Secretary Peter David.
“The regional heads should come together and say that we have signed that letter of intent but if in fact that they believe that everything is not set then certainly they are obligated to ensure that before we sign on everything is in place to ensure people’s interest are satisfied,” he said.
Amendments are now being made to a series of legislation to remove existing restrictions to the free movement of goods after Grenada and other eastern Caribbean countries signed up to the Single Market recently.
However, several companies in vulnerable sectors, including Caribbean Agro Industries, Grenada Bottling and Grenada Breweries, have been given a ten-year protection under the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
“The fact that our economy has been facing some serious challenges over the past couple of years means that we are vulnerable to the bigger territories and he larger corporations,” said David.
“We have called on this government to do more to prepare for CSM and CSME but we also call on the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to do more by preparing the smaller territories to face the kind of challenges that will come on stream”.